stanch
UK: stɑːntʃ | US: stæntʃ
vt. to stop the flow of (liquid, especially blood)
vt. to restrain or check (an emotion or action)
adj. (archaic) steadfast; loyal
The word "stanch" traces back to the Latin stare (to stand), reflecting the idea of "making something stand still." It entered English via Old French estanchier, which originally meant "to stop or quench" (e.g., thirst or bleeding). Over time, the spelling shifted to "stanch," retaining the core concept of halting flow or motion. The archaic adjective sense ("steadfast") also derives from the notion of standing firm.
The medic used a tourniquet to stanch the bleeding.
She tried to stanch her tears during the farewell.
The dam was built to stanch the river's flooding.
His stanch loyalty to the king never wavered.
Quick action is needed to stanch the spread of misinformation.